WTM Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Sorry if this has been asked before, but I have a bit of a question. I'm currently setting up a new terrarium for my dragon, and so far I have nearly everything sorted, but the lights. Which is what I'd like some advice on... To maximise the uv, I want to install the lights on the inside of the mesh (rather than above), so am looking at using a seperate light controller and 90cm bulbs... However on looking around the two main light controllers options I am looking at, are either 20w or 40w Now, the thing is the bulbs I already have are both 30w bulbs... Now I know with stand indancescent (sp?) you can use a variety of wattages in a fitting, but I'm not sure about fluoro's. So, can I use the 30w bulbs in the 40w controller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 It will decrease the life of the 30 watt tubes but you can use 2x 20s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted September 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Thanks Alan... Suggestions of places to get light controllers, other than LFS? I tried the "Lightbulb man" today, but didn't get very far there.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 It depends what yo mean by light controllers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted September 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Fair point.... Essentially what I mean is the unit sits between the bulb and the power socket (excluding the wires). i.e. something like this http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/light_cycle_unit.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Lighting controllers were an extremely unsuccessful product here in NZ particularly because of the high price which meant people could buy an entire unit for the price of the controllers. I have made an enquiry about a controller just last week from the wholesaler (no I cannot name them) but any store that has some knowledge about what they are can order a few sizes in for you. from memory I recall 18W, 30W? and a couple others and size dependent they were about $120 or so for a double controller which obviously has sockets for 2 lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted September 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Lighting controllers were an extremely unsuccessful product here in NZ particularly because of the high price which meant people could buy an antire unit for the price of the controllers. Yeah, am getting that feeling.... I've used the entire units in the past, but for this I really would prefer to have the lights inside the terrarium... Might pop into one of the pet stores on the way home and enquire about an order... or give a lighting supplier a call. I guess I could try a hydroponic supply place, but I'd really prefer not tp invite a house raid... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason22 Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 i got one of these and because the leads are so long i am able to use it for two small tanks. there is also a 30w modal made as well. i find it very useful as you can fit different length tubes in. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 014023.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishplants Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 You can buy ballast, waterproof (not really necessary in your case) endcaps, wire and plug from somewhere like Rexel, for a fraction of the cost of buying the entire light control units, and assemble them yourself. You can even go high-tech and get an ECG ballast (Electronic Control Gear), if you so desire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted September 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Thanks guys has been a real help... Jason - That's exactly what I was considering, but it seems they don't stock the 30w model... As per Fishplants comment, I've been in contact with an electrical supplier, and they reckon it can be done for less than 1/2 the price.... plus each tube would be seperate, so advantage of redundancy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason22 Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 the other problem that i just remember is that you need to make a reflector to go on top as alot of light is wasted out the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 I use a double 40 watt model of that for my reptiles. You have to have both tubes going at the same time or they don't work. They come in various sizes and I bought mine off trademe. They can be set for 10,12 and 14 hours on and rather than a time they stay on for the time you set from when you turn it on. I don't have it but I am sure there will be people on here with the knowledge to make one from parts. Cheaper--dearer--don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted September 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Got a store getting us a price on the 30w unit. Also popped into an electrical store, and it is cheaper to put together a controller from parts. Decisions decisions - cheaper or simpler with more features. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 I also use a plastic reflector that clips on to the flouro tube and is available from the pet shops. To make on could be an advantage if you only want a single. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted September 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 First pet store said the can't get them anymore... Second pet store has not got back to me yet Electrical store reckons about $50-$60 all up. On top of that is reflectors, which I can find listed online. Will update as it progresses.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted October 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 Still no response from 2nd pet store.... Electrical supplier I tried, also never got back to me.... :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: Talking to another electrical supplier, and apparently the regular manufacturers of battens, are all moving away from 3ft fittings... Is arranging for a 30w electronic ballast from the Wellington store, though not sure where I'd mount the ballast. Should have gone with two 2 foot tubes, or compact fluoro bulbs me thinks..... And the new terrarium has arrived, so I need to get this sorted. :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cessna driver Posted October 2, 2010 Report Share Posted October 2, 2010 though not sure where I'd mount the ballast. Your ballast will need to go a close as possible to the lamp, leads usually a max of 1M for hot end and 1.5M for the other end, the shorter the better. You will also need an enclosure for it too. I'd recommend have an electrician do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 If the first shop has looked properly and can't get them then the second wont be able to. There are only a few importers of Aquarium products and all shops use the same suppliers. Controllers/ballasts for T8 tubes are out dated now, bit like trying to buy an old curved screen TV. Your best bet is to keep an eye on trade me or ask round at your local fish club, a lot of guys have old units sitting round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted October 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 If the first shop has looked properly and can't get them then the second wont be able to. There are only a few importers of Aquarium products and all shops use the same suppliers. Controllers/ballasts for T8 tubes are out dated now, bit like trying to buy an old curved screen TV. Your best bet is to keep an eye on trade me or ask round at your local fish club, a lot of guys have old units sitting round. Thought as much... in a way this was a test to see which of our local stores was the more responsive. Not naming names, but it was interesting which store got back to me the next day (the chain store), and which one never even got back to me. Indeed it seems the case with T8, but unfortunately no one is yet making reptile bulbs in the T5 form, we seem to be the poor cousins. At this point, we needed to sort something or we'd be risking our beardy's health as the new terrrarium has arrived, so we've gone with compacts for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishplants Posted October 5, 2010 Report Share Posted October 5, 2010 Thought as much... in a way this was a test to see which of our local stores was the more responsive. Not naming names, but it was interesting which store got back to me the next day (the chain store), and which one never even got back to me. Indeed it seems the case with T8, but unfortunately no one is yet making reptile bulbs in the T5 form, we seem to be the poor cousins. At this point, we needed to sort something or we'd be risking our beardy's health as the new terrrarium has arrived, so we've gone with compacts for now. Have you tried Rexel? The branch here in CHCH has magnetic ballast for T8 (last time I was in there a couple of months ago), and there are electronic ballast made by Osram that will do both T5 and T8 - the QTi series from memory. If you don't have any luck, let me know what you want and I will get it from Rexel and send it to you. I am pretty sure that Redwood Aquatics (CHCH) has some of the Interpet controllers too, these are the ballast/leads/endcaps - plug and play. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WTM Posted October 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2010 I had spoken to the Advance Electrical store just down the road from my house on Saturday, and the guy was going to arrange for an electronic ballast for me... TBH though, I got a bit nervous about wiring it all up (we had an experience with bad wiring in our house the other year, and I've worked in the electricity industry so seen the horror pictures), and decided to instead just go with getting some compacts instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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